Dog rescued from tree by cherry picker

CLIMBING DOG: Archie the Jack Russell got himself stuck up a 30 meter pine tree at his home in Huapai, west Auckland. Thankfully the cavalry, Prolift Access Hire, came with a cherry-picker to get him down.

SAFELY DOWN: Archie made it back on solid ground.

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Archie the jack russell didn't let a 30-metre tree climb put him off the scent of a possum.

But the 2-year-old pooch hadn't quite thought through his escape plan.

Owner Louise Blair says she came home and heard the sound of Archie yelping, something not uncommon on their 35-acre Huapai property in west Auckland.

''We have a few dogs and they go off hunting for possums in the bush. But I heard him yelping when I got home on Wednesday,'' Blair said.

''My husband went out to look for him and found Archie stuck up a pine tree. We didn't know what to do.

''I phoned the SPCA who told me to ring the emergency services. They said they couldn't do anything and to call animal welfare. I called Auckland Council animal control and they couldn't do anything either.

"All the people I talked to thought it was funny, but no-one could help.''

Blair said she started to get a little nervous because she didn't want Archie to try and jump.

''Then I had a thought to get a cherry-picker. We phoned the nearest company Prolift Access Hire. They came rushing down with an enormous cherry-picker and helped us get him out of the tree.

''It was really neat of them.''

Blair said Archie must have been up the tree a fair while before they found him because the first thing he did when he was brought back to ground was take a very long wee.

''Archie seemed to be fine afterwards. I don't think the experience will stop him from chasing possums up trees.''